NASCAR hopes to finally get on track Wednesday to finalize its 2014 Sprint Cup Series rules package, one designed to create better racing on intermediate tracks.

Nothing gets under the skin of NASCAR brass more than the term “boring racing” and rightfully so. While not every race can be dramatic, there is nothing wrong with trying to put on the best show every week.

Safer Barrier (AP Photo)

The top priority for any company should be its product, so the fact NASCAR is working to better its product is certainly the right thing to do. But better racing on intermediate tracks is just one area that NASCAR needs to work on for next season. NASCAR officials know that as they continue to work to fulfill their "industry action plan," created to generate new ideas to enhance the sport.

Here’s a look at five key areas NASCAR should focus on over the next 12 months:

Sponsor retention and engagement

The teams rely on sponsorship in order to race. So creating value for sponsors is key ingredient to a successful NASCAR.

NASCAR needs to continue to find ways to make sponsors want to be part of the sport. Creating new and cost-effective ways for sponsors to activate at NASCAR events is critical. Sponsorship isn’t as important to NASCAR as it is to the tracks and especially to the race teams, so anything NASCAR can do to invest in research that shows return on investment (the new “engagement” center is a good start) would be worthwhile. It also must avoid duplicate courting of sponsors that already are committed to teams and work with the tracks to avoid any hurdles in activation by sponsors as a result of a conflict with a NASCAR or track sponsor.

NASCAR also needs to look at new venues, including street courses, that could generate excitement and the younger fan base that advertisers covet.

WiFi connectivity

Both International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. have talked about increasing wireless connectivity.

Anything NASCAR can do to push that along quicker would be a huge gain. NASCAR should even consider giving tracks a sanction fee discount if they reach a certain threshold of digital capability.

The experience for race fans is so enhanced with tweeting and texting and putting photos on Facebook and Instagram, that good WiFi will help the entire industry. The more engaged the fans are, the more invested they are in the sport.

That also goes back to sponsor value. If a sponsor is doing a promotion and fans can tweet or post photos about it, the more the sponsor will see the value. But if fans can’t use their mobile devices because of connectivity issues, that opportunity to capitalize on the moment is lost.

More SAFER Barriers

NASCAR and the tracks did the right thing when tracks began installing SAFER Barriers 10 years ago. They put them in the most needed spots — the turns — at all the tracks.

With the costs involved (an estimated $500 a foot), it made sense to do a portion of every track, covering the highest percentage of accidents.

But then tracks didn’t take the next step. Many were reactive instead of proactive, just putting new barriers in place after accidents determined they were necessary.

A plan should be put in place to add SAFER (Steel-and-foam energy reduction) Barriers in the remaining areas of tracks. It seemed a little short-sighted that Daytona didn’t add them when they did the repaving, which would appear to have been a prime opportunity.

Driver Development

Incentive programs for sponsors to work with younger talent in the development series should be looked at as too many potential Cup drivers don’t get the funding to prove themselves.

NASCAR also needs to limit the influence of Cup drivers and Cup teams on the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. A driver in Nationwide who finishes fifth through 10th every week behind the Cup-loaded teams likely won’t get the funding necessary to continue up through the ladder.

NASCAR has an incredible amount of talent surfacing but aren’t winning enough at the Nationwide level to attract attention. Just getting there — where sponsorship appears to be at least $5 million for a full, solid Nationwide ride — is difficult.

The sanctioning body is doing a good job getting more of its top stars prepared for the spotlight through its NASCAR Next program and in trying to have those drivers relate to younger viewers, but the bottom line is the funding for these young drivers is extremely limited.

Monitor Impact of Fox Sports 2

NASCAR needs to make sure its fans can access on-track activity. It would be nice if everything could be streamed online but it is not.

With a significant portion of practice and qualifying on Fox Sports 2, a channel that fewer people get than the former Speed Channel, NASCAR needs to make sure its avid fans are being serviced on a weekly basis.

If NASCAR is going to continue to have programming on a network that is part of a special sports tier that costs more than basic cable, it runs the risk alienating its core fan base.